Pregame Preview: Maybin back in CF as Padres open homestand

Cameron Maybin was cleared to play Tuesday afternoon and will return to the starting lineup Tuesday night as the Padres open a nine-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park (7:05 p.m.; TV: 4 San Diego).

Cameron is 19-for-45 during an active 10-game hitting streak and has tied the Padres all-time record with at least one stolen base in six straight games. He has scored 11 runs and has 10 steals in the 10 games since the All-Star break.

Maybin will hit in the lead-off slot against Arizona left-hander Joe Saunders. Jesus Guzman will start at first. Guzman is hitting .368 (14-for-38) against left-handed pitchers since being promoted from Triple-A Tucson on June 16.

The Padres made two roster moves earlier in the day:

Right-handed reliever Pat Neshek (3.52 ERA over 23 appearances in two earlier stints with the Padres this season) was recalled from Triple-A Tucson to replace Ernesto Frieri, who has flown to Colombia on paternity leave.

And catcher Kyle Phillips, whose average had fallen to .171 in a string of 21 hitless at-bats, was optioned to Triple-A Tucson with Luis Martinez promoted from Tucson.

The Padres are 3-2 thus far this season against Arizona, which comes to San Diego trailing the Giants by four games in the National League West.

The Padres still have 13 of their scheduled 18 games to play against the Diamondbacks and 25 of Arizona’s final 60 games are against the Padres and Dodgers -- the bottom two teams in the N.L. West.

Arizona’s chances of reaching the playoffs suffered a major blow last week when shortstop Stephen Drew was lost for the remainder of the season with a fractured right ankle.

Saunders faced the Padres back on May 8 at Petco Park and was pinned with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in six innings. Saunders is 6-3 over his last 11 starts with a 2.85 ERA. He has allowed 17 first-inning runs in 20 starts. Opponents are hitting .357 against Saunders in the first inning. The opposing lead-off hitter is batting .600 (12-for-20) in the first at-bat against Saunders.

Padres vs. Saunders

Jason Bartlett: .300 (3-for-10, 2B, SO)

Chris Denorfia: .333 (5-for-15, BB, SO)

Logan Forsythe: .000 (00-for-3, 2 SO)

Alberto Gonzalez: .429 (3-for-7, 2B, SO)

Chase Headley: .308 (4-for-13, 2B, 3B, 2 BB)

Orlando Hudson: .444 (4-for-9, 3 2B, SO)

Rob Johnson: .000 (0-for-9, BB, SO)

Ryan Ludwick: .000 (0-for-11, BB, SO)

Cameron Maybin: .333 (1-for-3)

Padres RHP Dustin Moseley (3-9, 3.19 ERA in 19 starts)

Moseley vs. the Diamondbacks: 0-1 career and this season, 9.00 ERA in one start.

Moseley at Petco Park: 1-5, career and this season, 3.91 ERA in nine starts.

Moseley will be making his 100th major league appearance and 52nd start Tuesday night. Moseley’s 2.71 run support average is the second-lowest in the major leagues. He is 1-3 with a 3.51 ERA over his last seven starts and the Padres are 1-6 in those starts. He faced the Diamondbacks once earlier this season at Petco Park and allowed five runs in five innings. That was one of five losses Moseley has suffered at Petco Park.